Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Aug 14: A delegation of Hotel & Restaurant Association, Katra called on Deputy Commissioner, Reasi Indu Kanwal Chib and sought certain modifications in the SOPs/guidelines issued by the Government of J&K for re-starting Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage from August 16.
The delegation comprised of the Association President Rakesh Wazir, Chairman Shyam Lal Kesar, former President Shiv Kumar Sharma, Sr Vice President Virender Kesar and others while Addl DC Rajinder Sharma and SDM Katra Ashok Choudhary were also present on the occasion.
Informing that as per SOP/guidelines, 4500 pilgrims from within the UT and 500 from outside would be permitted per day to have Darshans of Maa Vaishnodevi, Mr Wazir demanded that that restriction of Rs 500 pilgrims from outside the UT should be removed. “While making on line booking which is mandatory for doing Vaishnodevi Yatra, the quota of 5000 pilgrims should be filled in such a way that it remains open for all because if we will restrict to the mandatory figure of 4500 pilgrims from within UT that quota will remain un utilized as on an average even in normal days, the figure of local people remains much lower than 4500 per day,” he explained.
He further said that all pilgrims like from other States and Union territories should be allowed to proceed to Yatra with pre-covid test done within 72 hours at their native places and if that figure increases, it would hardly create any problem because all will be Covid negative.
Mr Kesar, while speaking on the occasion, emphasized for making the Yatra continuous without any restriction on 24 hour basis though with restricted number as it was prior to lockdown so that congestion and overcrowding be avoided at Bhawan and enroute. And likewise for the convenience of pilgrims, the shops and establishments be opened with no lockdown at Katra and enroute Bhawan, he added and suggested that final SOPs /guidelines should be advertised properly so that pilgrims coming from within and outside UT should have proper knowledge of those guidelines.
Mr Sharma & Virender Kesar said that there should not be repeated Covid test of the pilgrims coming for Darshans at Katra as emphasised in the issued SOP and the test done by Yatries at their homes within 72 hours should be valid for Yatra.
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